xt705q4rn69x https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt705q4rn69x/data/mets.xml Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Kentucky Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass 1984-12 Newsletter of the Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass, previously named the Central Kentucky Jewish Association and Central Kentucky Jewish Federation. The Federation seeks to bring Jewish community members together through holiday parties, lectures, Yiddish courses, meals, and other celebrations of Jewish heritage and culture. They also host fundraisers and provide financial assistance for Jews in need, both locally and around the world. newsletters English Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Jewish Federation of the Bluegrass records Jews -- Kentucky -- Lexington Jews -- History Central Kentucky Jewish Association newsletter, December 1984, volume 8 number 9 text Central Kentucky Jewish Association newsletter, December 1984, volume 8 number 9 1984 1984-12 2024 true xt705q4rn69x section xt705q4rn69x CENTRAL KENTUCKY JEWISH ASSOCIATION Vol. Final Edition. 1984 No.9 | l comm :- "Do not separate me from the Chosen, the' lay, the light, the splendor. Let me see the light of Israel. " - , — Ancient prayer of redemption by EthiopIan Jews In Africa 2 '7 More than 7 000 Ethiopian Jews are fulfilling the dreams Of their ancestors . by re- establishing their roots in Eretz Yisrael. But the transition to modern , Israeli society is a drastic adjustment from their more than 2 ,OOO-y'ear- o-ld . culture. It Is also costly and difficult. This' Is where the absOrption program of the Jewish Agency for Israel, funded by your UJA/community campaign gift, plays a vital tale. Before the Ethiopian Jews can make their way into lSraeli Society, there are numerous . ' health cUltUral and educational gaps which must be bridged. ' YOUr support is necessary, not only to meet the needs of Israels newest , immigrants from Ethiopia, but the more than 17, 000 other olim who came last year to build a future In the Jewish homeland.’ The Jewish partnership for life needs you. Give generously to your 1985 UJA/community campaign. We are Partners for Life. ' ’ CAMPAIGN ’85 ' WOMEN’S DIVISION . r O SETTING THE PACE The Pacesetters of Women's Division of the CKJA/United Jewish Appeal Campaign stepped out, set the tempo, and pledged the first monies for Campaign 1985. A group of 50 Pacesetters and their guests rode LeX—Tran trolleys to Warnerton Farm on the very date when the United Nations granted partition to Palestine in 1947. On this gala night thirty—seven years later some 30 women listened to Attorney General David Armstrong tell of his exciting and emotional involvement in the cause of Soviet Jewry. This charming ”southern non—Jewish" man shared his experiences while on a Visit to the Soviet Union in 1977. He met many refuseniks and ever since has spoken out to the Soviets On behalf of Jews wishing to emigrate. He has become a voice that demands to be heard in Nancy Hofifiman, Simone Saflomon, in the free world. and Judy Levine Mathilda Brailove, for many years a leading spokesperson for United Jewish Appeal, gave a grimly factual update on Israel 1984 and made an . . . urgent plea for funds to keep the promise of health, education, and human welfare in Israel. The Pacesetters listened and they responded —- over $24,000 was pledged! Congratulations to Chairperson Susan Caller and her co—chairladies Cheri Rose and Arlene Cohen for a fine plan carried to fantastic fruition. Mathiida Baaizoue and $manCM1wL Stanamg: Zel’da Gala, Steve Gan, Ede, Levy, . Phyffia Schea, Sana Levy, Maaiflyn GaKZ, Nancy Schea Seated: Sidney Gafll, Stankey Schca _ ”fir—“WV "m" H BENEFACTORS BRAVE SNOW On ”that” snowy night, December 5, 23 hardy souls braved the elements to attend the Women's Division Benefactors program at the home of Nancy and Phil Hoffman. Mickey Baron was scheduled to speak, but was unable to get through the ice and snow on I—64 from Louisville. But the family came through as her cousin Steve Caller came directly from a UJA meeting in Chicago to the Hoffmans to deliver a dramatic report on the most recent wave of immigration to Israel. Steve challenged all pre- sent to take control of the future of our fellow Jews by contributing the funds so urgently needed to assure their passage to Israel and their ab— sorption into Israeli society. The group watched a brief video presentation which follows a new Ethiopian Jewish family establishing itself in a development town. The mix of nationalities from which the various members of the community came is especially striking. A Russian physician explains his particular empathy for this family because of his own recent immigration experiences. To date there are approximately 8000 Ethiopian Jews living in Israel, over half of these having arrived in the past 18 months. It is estimated that the absorption process for the Ethiopians takes at least twice as long as for those arriving from western countries. Their poor physical condition coupled with the tremendous cul— tural differences requires intensive and extended efforts. The CKJA Women's Division board and all those attending wish to express a special thank you to Robert Bostrum, Dorothy Neff, and their accompanist Martha Anderson who also defied the weather in order to present a beautiful and poignant medley from Fiddfah on Ihe R006. Sue Ezrine, Linda Levy and Ricki Rosenberg deserve much credit for an outstanding program. "SNow DAY” ANNOUNCED %’ Women's Division Chair Judy Levine and her Co—chair Simone Salomon have just announced a special "snow day" event. On Sunday morning, January 20, 1985, Mickey Baron will be the featured speaker at a coffee to which all the women in the Central Kentucky Jewish community are invited. Spouses and escorts are encouraged to attend. Watch your mail for details on place and time. The immediate past national chair of the UJA Young Women's Leadership Cabinet, Mickey will report on recent trips to the Soviet Union and to Israel. She will be joined by Steve Caller who will present an update on current immigration to Israel. All women who attend will have an opportunity to make a pledge to the 1985 CKJA/UJA Campaign. AND, FROM THE MEN’S DIVISION CAMPAIGN 1985.... Chairman Alvin Goldman has announced the following events: February 17, 1985 there will be an Education and Solicitor Training Seminar. The speaker will be William Freedman of the United Jewish Appeal Young Leadership Cabiner. On March 3, 1985 Men's Division will host a Guardians of Zion dinner for all contributors, men and women, of $1200 or more. The speaker will be Lieutenant Governor Stephen Breshear. On March 10, 1985 there will be a Gala Wine & Cheese evening for the entire men's division. These are events. Events are planned to arm you with knowledge about the whereabouts of your relatives here in Lexington and your more distant relatives in Israel, in Russia and your relatives most in need in Ethiopia. Your cousins in Israel have already opened the doors to your cousins from Ethiopia. With the money that only Wg_can supply can we save a child from starvation, bundle up this baby and his family and jet him from the desert and the famine to his ancestoral home in Israel and prepare him for life in the twentieth century. Oh yes, these events are informative and they give you the opportunity to SAVE JEWS. Our parents and grandparents didn't have this opportunity to buy life. Our generation, our children and our grandchildren can...and WE WILL. WE WILL THRILL TO OUR ACHIEVEMENTS TOMORROW ONLY IF WE FULFILL OUR COMMITMENTS TODAY This column is a special message to the small portion of our CKJA membership who have not fully paid their prior CKJA/UJA pledges. The theme is simple and not surprising ~~ we need your cash as promptly as possible! This need is parti— cularly great at this time in Jewish history because in every facet of life, our brethren in Israel are burdened with an extraordinary financial crisis. We do not exaggerate when we characterize the situation as a financial crisis. For example, Ben Gurion University has had to dismiss 50 professors and reduce pay by 25 percent. Similar cutbacks are being made at Tel Aviv University, Technion, and the Weitzmann Institute of Science -— all leading institutions with world—wide reputations for scholarly excellence. And, all of this despite substantial in— creases in tuitions. Additional examples of the impact of this crisis include cutbacks in care for the elderly (pensions for the elderly have been reduced to $190/month for a couple), and reduction of Youth Aliyah programs. Israel's financial crisis has many causes; as we can see, it has but one cure and that is a program of austerity. The Israeli government has had to adopt a program that puts these tremendous burdens on medical, educational, and welfare programs. Your pledge payments will help ease some of this burden by providing a means of supplementing these vital programs. Therefore, please make every effort to stay current in paying your CKJA/UJA pledges. Shara W 1/1291'0/1 GIVE TO LIFE BE A PARTNER FOR LIFE —ANS WER THE CALL. More people will participate in Super Sunday than in any other national event of the 1985 United Jewish Appeal Campaign. This is your chance to be one of them...and make fund-raising history, too. Join thousands of volunteers in federations across the country in an all-out telephone drive— to reach more people and raise more money in a single day than ever before. Give us two hours of your time on Super Sunday. 0 To call your friends and neighbors. 0 To ask them to join you in helping our fellow Jews at home, in Israel and around the world—through our community campaign. The calls you make may determine the quality of Jewish life in the years ahead. Reserve your Super Sunday telephone now. SUNDAY, MARCH 31st . NCAA WEEKEND * ”Coaches” ERNIE COHEN and SUSAN MILLER proudly announce the first Super Sunday 1985 play-off has taken place and the following players lare on the court. ELLlE GOLDMAN and CHARLOTTE BAER, Training HALLEY FAUST and STEVE DEKOSKY, Records GIGI WHITE and CAROL VEAL, Food KAREN MELNICK, Publicity ’ ARLENE COHEN, Special Events Q HARRY COHEN and JACK MILLER, Celebrities JIMMY MISCHNER, Facilities;1 JUDY BAUMANN and MERLE WEKSTEIN, Women' 5 Division Liaisons JOE ROSENBERG and VINNIE DUBILIER, Co— Chairs Beo Portne’forL'fe_ for 1986! Answerthe Coll You can be on the starting line by mailing the form today! Partners for Life ____________________________ TEAROFFANDMAIL —‘A7~____——AA~_____—-___-____ Coach ERNIE COHEN, 3379 Sutherland Drive, Lexington, KY LIOSOZ I WOULD LIKE TO BE ON THE TEAM Name Address Telephone # (Home) (Bus) I will be able to staff the telephone from: [110 a.m. - 12 p.m. D 2 p.m. - 1+ p.m. D 1+ p.m. — 6 p.m. Youth Session El 12 p.m. — 2 p.m. [:1 6 p.m. — 8 p.m. . I would like to help on a committee: NOTE: You will be requested to be at the phone center for Orientation and Training 45 minutes before your session begins. If you have not made your 1985 pledge, you will be given the opportunity to do so at the close of your Orientation & Training session. Contributors to the 1984 CKJA/UJA Campaign Men’s Division $25,000 and over Steve Caller $10,000 — $24,999 Harry Cohen Don Sucher Joseph Wolf $5,000 - $6,999 Maurice Hymson Mark Warner David Weil $3,000 — $4,999 Mike Ades Erle Levy Stanley Rose Arthur Salomon Brad Wolken $2,000 — $2,999 Robert Cohen Leon Cooper Louis Dubilier Marvin Frank Alvin Goldman Lloyd Mayer Morris Rozen Allan Slovin $1,200 — $1,999 Robert Baumann David Bolotin Ernie Cohen Steve Goldstein Phil Hoffman Raymond Miller Leon\Ravvin Stanley Saxe $1,000 — $1,199 Lou Boyarsky Harold Fine Charles Gorodetzky Martin Kaplan Avram Levine Tomas Milch Charles Schwartz WE SALUTE $600 - $999 Mike Baer Marvin Bing Louis Diamond Ted Friedman Ken Germain Carl Gesund Hans Gesund William Leffler Michael Lerner Ken Mayer David Paritz Hyman Shraberg Ed Wides Jeseph Wile Myron Zuckerman $300 — $599 Louis Ades Phil Fanwick Sheldon Hymson Lenny Lerner Jim Levenson Stuart Lowenthal Eugene Mervis Alan Paritz Stan Revesman Charlie Rosenberg Bernard Schwab Stuart Silbar Alan Stein Jesse Weil $150 — $299 Harvey Abend Philip Berger Sieg Bing Lou Bornstein Austin Cantor Alan Cohen Henry Darmstadter Bruce Gantz Nathan Golton Oscar Haber Mark Luckens Joe Miller David Osser Foflowfing U.» a £051. 05 COMIMbuIOn/s who have 0.014282%th to having the/UL names pubfl/shed. Fred Pollock Ivan Sipos Jeffrey Silverman Paul Wertheimer $5 — $149 Leon Amster Presley Arnovitz Ben Baer Harold Baer Matthew Barrett Michael Jay Biel Abe Cohen Fred Cohen Jack Cohen Nathan Cohen Charles Collins Steven Craft Eugene Doren Lee Elioseff George Faigen Warren Frank Greg Grankel Ken Freedman Irving Gershman Robert Goldsmith Lester Goldstein Dan Goodman Clifford Gross Richard Grossman Joseph Hamburg Lee Hoffman William Houlihan Sanford Joseph Steve Kamerling Josh Kamof David Kaplan Jeffrey Kessler Bruce Koffler Mark Kovar Bruce Kruglick Richard Levine Robert Levine John MacDonald Lee Marx David Maxson Richard McCreary Mark Mellman Henry Meyer I.A. Miller Alan Pearson Mark Perecman Jesse Peters Marc Plavin Abe Rabiner Hyman Rosenberg Louis Rosenberg Dan Rosensohn Sam Rosenstein Ira Rosenthal David Sabritt Werner Saloman Jack Sharer Art Shechet Lawrence Sherman Joel Sokoloff Sheldon Steiner I.H. Stern, Jr Louis Strauss Michael Tachman Gary Thor Stanley Victor Greg Waller Dennis Whitcopf Andrew Weiner Dan Yarus Partners For Life rg IE [is Women’s Division $5,000 and over Susan Caller $4,000 — $4,999 Penny Miller Phyllis Scher $1,000 — $1,999 Edith Frankel Evelyn Geller Evelyn Hymson Harriet Rose Irma Rosenstein Shirley Sucher Vivian Weil $500 — $999 Arlene Cohen Harriet Cooper Karen Edelstein Marilyn Gall Zelda Gall Ellie Goldman . Susan Goldstein ‘ Laia & Richard Hanau Gloria Katz Sari Levin Sara Levy Marilyn Moosnick Simone Salomon Nancy Scher $350 — $499 Anita Baker Gail Cohen Vinnie Dubilier Nancy Hoffman Pauline Levy Judy Saxe $200 — $349 Judy Baumann Maxine Bobys Janice Brock Ann Buckholtz Chris Eidelson Sue Friedman Alana Leffler ' Judy Levine Ethel Paritz Helen Paritz Mary Wenneker $150 — $199 Elizabeth Broudy Lynn Cooper—Myers Ada Gail Renee Hymson Alice Mickler Jo Mink Linda Ravvin Carol Veal $100 — $149 Charlotte Baer Frieda Baer Sandy Berger Marsha Chatoff Cindy Derer Kaye Frankel Lois Germain Marjorie Lerner Ann Mervis Esther Moskovitz Ruth Osser Dora Pollock Selma Rosenberg Roz Rozen Ann Stein Ethel Schwartz Marilyn Swan $50 — $99 Barbara Barr Ruth Bell Lila Boyarsky Dale Brichta Michele Erdmann Anne Frye Rebecca Golton Jane Graham Barbara Grossman Estelle Guttman Minna Miller—Sabritt Ann Samani Eileen Scherl Miriam Starr—Gantz Sharyn Sharer Carolyn Straus Carla Wolff $1 — $49 Doris Baer Ella Berkowitz Vivana Brodey Carol Busch Jill Caller Lisa Campbell Sharon Coale Laura Collins Judith Craft Karen Diamond Betsy Dickow Mindy Doctrow Shelly Dutch Shlomit Elitzer Taryn Fine Joan Flashman Vivian Frank Diane Friedman Jean Friedman Rae Friedman Nikki Fulks Elaine Gellin Irmgard Gesund Marianne Gleason Helen Goldfarb Paul Goldman Lynne Goldsmith Rose Goldwater Dawn Haber Linda Haggin Debbie Joffe Lynn Kadden Mrs. Alan Kaplan Mindy Kovinow Vera Kreiger Edith Lach Freda Lerner Mrs. Joseph Liebman Donna Lowenthal Ruth Luckens Linda MacDonald Lynn McCreary Alma Miller Lillian Morris Sadie Osser Leonore Pappas Debbie Perecman Dee Peretz Debbie Rader Eileen Ray Marcia Risk Cathy Rosenberg Lillian Rosenberg Martha Rosenberg Hattie Rosenstein Arlene Rosenthal Rita Salzberg Beth Schumacher Sallie Shakib Dindee Sheridan Rebecca Silverman Natalia Simonovsky Robin Stein Naomi Sussman Laura Szekely Florence Travis Kathleen Whalen Betsy Wides Georgia Zuckerman 198A ISRAEL BOND CAMPAIGN REPORT Dr. Kitty Cohen, an adjunct professor of Jewish Studies at American University, was the guest speaker at the Israel Bonds Parlor Meeting held on December 12 at the home of Sara and Erle Levy. She described the close relationship between Israel " ‘i Bonds and the development of Israel in underwriting new roads, preparation of land for settlements and industrial sites, etc. Dr. Cohen stressed that the purchase of Israel Bonds represents both a loan to the State of Israel,which has always been repaid, and an act of faith in Israel's future. To date $47,500 in bonds have been purchased in this year's campaign. Potential bonds purchasers should note the imporved features of the $250 State of Israel Certificate. The new Israel Bond instrument was established to increase identification with Israel —— specifically by encouraging more visitors to the country. El Al Airlines will accept the certificates after they are at least one year old as payment for tickets to and from Israel. The certificates will also have the following graduated increases in their value each year if cashed in Israel for Israeli currency: after one year, $260; after two years, $275; after three years, $295; four years, $320; five years (at maturity), $360. In addition, Current Income Bonds are available starting at $500 and multiples of $500. Interest is paid semi—annually by check at a rate of 4% per year. These bonds may be surrendered in Israel up to $2500 a month per person for Israel Shekels to defray tourist expenses in Israel. Bonds which are five years old can be used for investment in Israel or purchases of real estate in Israel. A transfer may be made at any time to a charitable or educational institution, contributions to which are tax deductible. Additional information concerning the $250 Certificate, Current Income Bonds, or other types of Israel Bonds may be obtained from the CKJA office or Bob Badenes of the Region Israel Bonds Office in Cincinnati, Ohio, at 513-421—4144. ' ' A CKJA COMMUNITY MISSION TO ISRAEL FTE IS BEING PLANNED FOR CSPECIAL ”0“ JUNE 16 — 26, 1985 $1700/PERSON, DOUBLE OCCUPANCY FOR A MINIMUM OF 16 PEOPLE WATCH THE NEWSLETTER FOR MORE INFORMATION, OR CONTACT ERLE LEVY. CENTRAL KENTUCKY JEWISH ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER Jack Miller, President Phyllis Scher, Editor ‘ . ' Judith Saxe, Community Worker Beth Altenkirch, Ofc. Manager 258 Plaza Drive, Suite 208, Lexinoton. Kentucky A0503 (606)277—8OA8 7a saw Q Ma The officers and board of CKJA want you to know the news update on Shari ‘ig Eldot. As you previously have heard, Shari is a victim of a serious heart ' disease, idiopathic congestive cardiomyopathy. Her condition is so critical that she is now in Richmond, Virginia awaiting a heart transplant at the Medical College of Virginia. The cost of this procedure is well over $200,000 and is not covered by health insurance. CKJA has established a Shari Eldot Fund to assist in defraying the expenses of the surgery. The initial grant from CKJA was $5000, and over $300 in private contributions has been received. The board of Temple Adath Israel has pledged $2500, and 0havay Zion Synagogue Sisterhood has also pledged to raise funds. The money from CKJA and other donations has been deposited in an interest bearing account, and the balance as of December l, 1984 was $5634.00. Temple Adath Israel Sunday School has earmarked $500 from its Karen Ami Fund for Shari's benefit. They sent this money directly to Shari as a Hannukah gift along with the greetings and get well wishes from all students. Shari and her family need your help. Her youth, her positive attitude and her plans for her future depend on finding a replacement for the damaged heart and the monies necessary for the operation. We can all help Shari with a contri— bution to a fund set up to pay for her operation and recovery. Money can quite possibly buy Shari's return to good health and to a productive and happy future. Let today's Mitzua be a contribution to the Shari Eldot Fund, in care of CKJA, 258 Plaza Drive, Suite 208, Lexington, Kentucky 40503. TWO ANNOUNCEMENTS 0F ACTIVITIES FOR WORLD JEWRY There will be a Gathering of Jewish Holocaust Survivors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania APRIL 21 —22, 1985 The most important task of the American Gathering is to help establish the National Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. and to support all Holocaust centers throughout the country. The government of Israel has decided to convene a World Assembly to commemorate 40 years since the defeat of Nazi Germany and her satellites. Various events and ceremonies will be held in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, MAY 5 through 9, 1985. There will be an unveiling of the Statue of Victory at Yad Veshem. ' Any details or further information desired? Check with the CKJA office. CENTRAL KENTUCKY JEWISH ASSOCIATION 1985 FEBRUM SERIES "THE FUTURE OF THE N AMERICAN JEWISH COMMUNITY ....presented by Dr. David Sidorsky, Professor of Philosophy at Columbia University, a graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary with a degree in Hebrew Literature, editor of two anthologies: The Fqu/LQ 06 the Jami/.311 fl Commumlty in Amen/{ca and EMayA in Human 1 Rights. and H CHAVA ALBERSTEIN H TIE LiADING LADY OF ISRAELI SONG A SpeLlai Israel Independence Day offering —- a one woman show presenting a variety of flavors and styles including folklore, jazz, cabaret, children's songs, and Yiddish music. The Washington Post says, ”Her rich, mellow voice, reminiscent of a clarinet in its alto register, sounds not unlike Edith Piaf...she provided through song a charming glimpse of Israeli culture.” Arrangements for Dr. Sidorsky and H5. Alberstein made through the International B'nai B'rlth Lecture Bureau. The Forum is a unique cultural program combining Jewish education and entertainment. It is coordinated and partially subsidized by C.K.J.A. Your support helps to enhance the quality of Jewish life in our community. PLEASE PLAN TO JOIN US TO ORDER TICKETS, send this coupon, your check payable to CKJA Forum, and a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Dr. William Levy SIS Lone Oak Drive Lexington, KY A0503 NAME # of tickets total price Adult Patron Series Ticket - $20 per person = Adult Series Ticket - $10 per person = Single Event Adult Ticket - $6 = TOTALS: Children of season ticket holders are admitted free. Full-time college students are charged $1 per program at the door. C KJA ANNUAL MEETHNQ «gm-§ Judy Levine, CKJA PaAI PneALdent, pneAenILng Aenuice awand to Jack 44%? C Aux/Zen in necogn/(Ltéon 05 nu pneéidency. 94. e/Lq; Vinnie Dubifiien and Judy Baumann enjoying deception fioflflowing. Community Wonhen Judy Saxe Iafihing unih Steve Cufiflen. __ 7985 Men’A Diuiéion Chain Afluin Gofldman and Emanuef Mabon. Hanokd "Buck" Shenman John DuVaZZc, WLEX—TU, and CRC ChaiA.DauLd Wehbtein weaving C] F 34'1qu Awa/Ld in PubLéc Rear/tom 5021 i984 Pnoduction "And I WaA Thane" 610m Sheifla DQKOAhy and Joe Rozsenbe/Lg. 1984 n"bwn--i"bwn (5744-5745) ‘20,; A l NEANS. SEARCH FOR MENGELE: NEW PROGRESS REPORTED New York (JTA) -- Paraguay has begun a thorough nationwide investigation to locate Josef Mengele, the infamous war criminal and chief doctor at the Auschwitz concentration camp responsible for the murder of tens of thousands of Jews during World War ll. The investigation will be conducted by police authorities under the Ministry of Interior, according to Elizabeth Holtzman, Brooklyn District At- torney, who just returned from a three-day visit to Paraguay as a member of a dele- gation who travelled there under the sponsorship of the International Network of Children of Jewish Holocaust Survivors. Holtzman told that Paraguayan officials have also agreed to allow foreign ob— servers to monitor the investigation and will allow for written questions to be submitted to the government about the whereabouts of Mengele, who is believed to be living in Paraguay. Mengele, who would now be 7A years old, received Paraguayan citizenship in 1959, which was revoked in 1979. Since 1962, West Germany has issued at least 10 requests to Paraguay for Mengele's extradition. He is wanted in West Germany for crimes against humanity. Holtzman also called on the Reagan Administration to press the issue of Mengele with the Stroessner government. NEWS BRIEFS 0F PROTESTS AND PRESIDENTS The 53rd general assembly of the Council of Jewish Federations, which convened in Toronto in Novem- ber, dealt with a panorama of Jewish topics and elected its first woman President, Baltimore's Shoshana S. Cardin. Meeting in more than 225 sessions devoted to subjects that ranged from aging to Yiddish poetry, and grap— pling with such weighty issues as the rescue of Soviet Jewry, black- Jewish relations and the challenges faced by Israel, the more than 2,500 delegates to the major annual forum in Jewish affairs were offered speeches by such luminaries as Binyamin Netanyahu, Israel's ambas— sador to the U.N.; Thomas Dine, execu- tive director of AIPAC; Yitshak Navon, deputy prime minister of Israel; novelist Chaim Potok and Henry Kissinger, former U.S. Secretary of State. Ambassador H. Eugene Douglas, U.S. coordinator for refugee affairs, described the plight and suffering of millions of people around the world suffering from famine, disease and oppression and noted that the plight of Ethiopian Jewry is part of this global tragedy. Referring to an earlier demonstration, he exhorted the audience to ”have more trust" in the efforts undertaken by the American and Israeli governments to rescue Ethiopian Jewry. Two Ethiopian Jews now living in Israel who addressed the session, Uri Ben—Gad and Rachamin Ben—Joseph, who had been imprisoned and tortured in Ethiopia because of their pro— claimed Zionism, issued a plea to save the Jews of Ethiopia. Ben-Gad, who spoke in his native language, which was translated into English by Ben-Joseph, said, "Our people are dying. Our people are alone. They are helpless. Our people are in need. They are starving. They are waiting for your help. Save them." NETANYAHU, UPBEAT ON JERUSALEM AND WASHINGTON In a rousing, optimistic speech, Israel's UN ambassador, Binyamin Netanyahu, pointed out that this "is a time of great opportunity for Israel; greater than at any time in its history.” Things have changed, he said. Israel is no longer youthfully naive, it is respected by other nations and it is increasingly sought after for its expertise in agriculture, techno— logy and the military sciences. But some of the myths or miscon— ceptions about Israel must change. One is the belief that the whole world is against Israel. "It is not.” Another is the notion that Israeli diplomacy can produce a kind of ”mes- sianic era” of peace. "This will not happen," he warned. "There are no Hollywood endings in international diplomacy." It is unrealistic, he said, to believe that the way to peace is through unilateral concessions. ”For the weak, alliances are difficult to come by. Strength is viewed as an asset. We will not purchase alliances with weakness." The exposure of the U.S. to Arab terrorism, said the MIT—educated diplo— mat, has introduced America first— hand to the realities of the Arab world. "The alliance between Israel and the United States has been strengthened. America will not find a more willing or competent ally." NAVON: A SURPRISING DEGREE OF UNITY "It is hard to be a Jew, harder to be governed by Jews and harder still to govern Jews," a smiling Yitzhak Navon told the assembly delegates at a plenarv session on Israel's challenges. The popular former President of Israel, who now serves as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Culture, combined humor and serious points in his talk. 1ry Canada and the U.S. are "backward countries,’l he teased, because they only have a couple of major political parties despite their large populations. ”We had 15,” he said, referring to Israel's last election, ”and the re— sults were that none could win. We couldn't beat each other, so we joined hands. And I am surprised and pleased to say that this unique creature is alive and functions.f Navon stressed that the unity government's two major priorities are to pull Israeli troops out of Lebanon as fast as possible, "as soon as our northern border is secured," and to try to rein in the runaway economy. "The first thing we did was to cut the budget 10 percent across the board," he said, explaining that Israel's budget is $21 billion. Of that, $10 billion is debts, and of the remaining $11 bil— lion, $4.5 billion is for defense. "So we must ask ourselves, do we want to be economically strong and militarily weak? And we conclude that we have to make sure we exist before we can even have an economy." Navon said the goal is to re—structure the economy with an empha— sis on high technology and modernized industry. He announced the formation of a task force, headed by Max Fisher of Detroit and Charles Bronfman of Canada, to increase the sale of Israel Bonds and ensure that a greater per— centage of monies collected by UJA go to Israel. "This is an emergency," Navon asserted, "and one thing I guarantee is that we will noodge you again and again." Another priority in Jerusalem is to push for better relations with Egypt, Navon said. "We're concerned with the freezing of relations, which is not the peace we looked for. We are worried about the level of anti— Israel and anti—Jewish propanganda in the Egyptian press, characterizing Jews as bloodthirsty. We feel there must be a change." Navon saw no breakthrough for peace in the near future, with Jordan re— maining obstinate. "The situation will stay unsettled but we want to improve the quality of life for our Arab popu— lation," he concluded. KISSINGER: NOT THE RIGHT TIME FOR PEACE PUSH Speaking before the plenary session, former Secretary of State Henry Kis— singer said that he did not believe there is an opportunity at this time to make a breakthrough toward peace in the Middle East and warned that ”any attempt to achieve a comprehensive solution at this moment will lead to an extraordinarily difficult and dangerous situation." He also emphasized that involving the Soviet Union in any Middle East negotia- tions would make the effort to achieve peace ”infinitely more difficult." The basic reasons for his skepticism about the possibility for a breakthrough is the continuing internecine warfare be— tween the Arab states, the domestic turmoil within the Arab states and the fear on the part of some of the Arab leaders that making peace with Israel would undermine their continued existence. Kissinger said that the United States "has learned that attempting too sweeping an approach can lead to setbacks and even humiliation and may achieve nothing sub— stantial. Kissinger stated that "no diplomatic progress can be made and that the se— curity of Israel cannot be maintained if Israel loses its distinguishing fea- tures, which was, that it was an idea before it became a reality, that it was a community that made the state in— evitable. That is our challenge and our big opportunity." Kissinger said that Israel, with its unity government is capable of making decisions "within a realistic framework." The biggest trouble facing Israel is internal, not its foreign policy, he ob- served. ”And that is why groups like this (the CJF) symbolize the fact that Israel is not alone and that it has friends outside that can contribute spiritual strength." Kissinger stated that in spite of all the problems facing Israel in its quest for peace, "they can all be dealt with by our own actions. None of them require a structural solution. There is no other people or groups of peoples in the world that can say that the solution of their problems is almost entirely in their own hands." 5mm the Sui/ammo. 12mm Tim/s News Briefs New Leaders Of U.S. Senate Support Israel Washington (JTA) — The new leadership in the Republi- can controlled Senate, which was elected last week, is ex- pected to maintain the pro- Israel position of the outgoing Congress, one of the most sup- portive ever of Israel, and may even improve on this record. This includes Sen. Robert Dole (R. Kan.), who was elected Majority Leader; Sen. Alan Simpson (R. Wy.), who was elected Dole’s deputy; and Sen. Richard Lugar (R. Ind), who will be chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, when the 99th Congress conve